RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The New Jersey Nets were lucky just to get to
the arena because of a police standoff with a gunman a few miles
away. Once they got there, they were just good enough to stay
undefeated on the road.
Stephon Marbury scored 28 points and rookie Kenyon Martin had 19
points and 15 rebounds Monday night as the Nets defeated the Los
Angeles Clippers 86-85.
After their morning shootaround, the Nets couldn't get into
their hotel in Marina Del Rey because of a police standoff with a
gunman.
"As long as no bullets came by me, I was not affected," said
reserve forward Johnny Newman, who hit a pair of clutch jumpers
down the stretch to help seal New Jersey's third straight road
victory.
"We could have made a bunch of excuses about the flight over --
and today's events," coach Byron Scott said. "But I preached to
them at halftime that I don't want to make those type of excuses.
We want to compete and get after those guys. It's not a pretty win,
but I'll take an ugly win any day."
Lamar Odom led the Clippers with 24 points, including a
3-pointer that sliced New Jersey's lead to one with 2.1 seconds to
play.
Newman missed both free throws at the other end, but the
Clippers -- who committed 21 turnovers following a 30-turnover
debacle in Saturday's loss to Seattle -- had no timeouts left and
couldn't get off a final shot.
Corey Maggette, who scored his first points of the game on a
layup with 7:16 remaining, fueled a 10-3 run with a slam dunk and a
3-pointer as the Clippers reduced an eight-point deficit to 76-75
on Odom's 17-footer with 3:14 to play.
But Marbury responded with a 3-pointer and Newman hit a
13-footer for an 81-75 cushion with 3:10 left. Sean Rooks' tip-in
put the Clippers within three with 1:15 to go, but Newman hit a
clutch 3-pointer from the right corner with 49 seconds on the
clock.
Marbury reached the 20-point mark for the ninth consecutive
game.
Odom engaged in a long-distance jawing match with Nets coach
Byron Scott on both ends of a timeout with 2:19 left in the third
quarter after the Nets took a 60-52 lead on a dunk by Martin and a
3-pointer by fellow rookie Stephen Jackson.
Moments after Jackson's 3, as the Nets were about to inbound the
ball, the Clippers' co-captain had words with Jackson -- who was
gently led away from Odom by teammate Kendall Gill before the
heated by-play escalated. Odom and Jackson both received technical
fouls.
"It was just some talking," Odom said. "In a way, I was
trying to rev myself up. I think I needed just a good kick in the
butt or something, just to wake me up and get myself into the
game."
The Nets, who entered the game with a winning record for the
first time since the 1997-98 season, led 41-39 at halftime despite
the fact that they were outrebounded 29-18, shot 39 percent from
the field and attempted only two free throws.
"Character is what got this team the victory tonight," Martin
said. "We played hard down the stretch and beat a good team."
Playing before an intimate crowd generously announced at 9,803,
the Clippers built a 22-12 lead with a strong inside presence and
didn't commit their first foul until 39 seconds before the end of
the first period. But Marbury had five points and two assists in
the final 2:12 of the quarter to help pull New Jersey within
24-22.
Game notes
Clippers rookie Keyon Dooling made his first NBA start
while guard Jeff McInnis sat out his first game of the season
because of a bruised left knee. Dooling had five points and five
assists in 41 minutes and was 1-for-7 from the field. ... The Nets
have started 3-0 on the road for only the second time in 25 seasons
since moving from the ABA to the NBA in 1976. ... New Jersey
attempted only two free throws in the first 29:56 and finished
11-for-24. ... The Clippers placed rookie F Zendon Hamilton on the
injured list because of lower back spasms and activated G Earl
Boykins. ... The Nets and Philadelphia 76ers (5-0) are the only
teams that haven't lost on the road. ... The Clippers have failed
to score 90 points in six straight games, the longest such streak
in the 31-year history of the Clippers/Buffalo Braves franchise.
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NBA Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
LA Clippers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 114
Boston 90
Charlotte 100
Toronto 64
Dallas 107
Utah 98
Denver 95
Vancouver 92
New Jersey 86
LA Clippers 85
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